Grant Petersen's interests in agriculture were instilled in him at a young age, as he grew up on a crop and cattle farm in southern Minnesota. In high school, an opportunity arose to work with a local farrow to finish operation - his first experience with pigs. In 1998, he attended South Dakota State University and graduated in 2002 with a B.S. degree in animal science. Following undergraduate work, he began a M.S. degree with Dr. Stein. His thesis title was "Phosphorus Digestibility of Inorganic Phosphorus Sources by Growing Pigs", which he defended in 2004. His career continued with United Animal Health, based in Sheridan, IN. There he worked on swine research and nutritional technical service with concentrations in ingredient evaluation, product development, and diet formulation. In 2007, he continued his education with Dr. Stein at the University of Illinois. In 2011, he earned his Ph.D. with a dissertation entitled, "Estimation of the ideal standardized ileal digestible tryptophan:lysine ratio in 10 to 20 kg pigs." Dr. Petersen worked as a Research Nutritionist at United Animal Health. Where he did head the breed to wean research group conducting research at a 1000 head breed to wean facility. He also conducted field research and consults with pork producers in the field. Dr. Petersen is proprietor of Pedersen Nutrition and is currently working there.